Pediculosis (head lice) is a common condition in the school age child. It is highly contagious and easily spread form direct or indirect contact with the infested person and/or infested personal items. The school principal or designee will screen students for head lice. If nits (egg cases) or live lice are present, the student will be excluded from school until the student is nit and lice free.
CASE FINDING:
- At the beginning of each academic year, all students (K – 5) may be examined for head lice. Student may be examined for head lice upon request of any staff member.
- When a case is found, all children in the classroom may be examined. Also, a notification of head lice letter is to be sent home to all parents of children in the classroom the same day the case of head lice is discovered.
- If five (5) or more children appear to be infested, an examination of the entire school may be done.
ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING:
- Each infestation will be recorded. The following information shall be entered: name, age, grade, teacher, bus number, date the infestation was discovered, type of treatment, date student returned to school after treatment, other pertinent information. Each new infestation shall be recorded, even if the child has previously been treated and declared free of head lice and nits.
- Parents of infested students will be required to come to school and take the child home.
- Parents shall be shown some of the nits in order to
- demonstrate that the child is infested and
- enable parents to see what a nit or louse looks like and thus gain the information needed to examine other family members for infestation.
- Proof of treatment (note from physician or shampoo box top) must accompany the student returning to school. The child will be reexamined for lice or nits before readmission. If a child returns to school the same day as diagnosis and treatment, the child must be wearing a different set of clothing. If after any infestation, the child is not treated as set forth, he or she will be refused readmission to school and sent home to their parents. The parents shall also be sent a separate letter. If a child has been treated twice and is still coming to school with nits and lice, parents will be required to bring the child to school for five continuous days to be checked before regular admission to school will be allowed. If a child returns without receiving any treatment a third time, or if the principal or nurse knows in advance that the family cannot afford treatment, the principal may do one or all of the following:
- Request direct follow up by the local health department.
- Provide enough medication to treat the infested student and infested members of his or her household. Medication will be provided by Kimberly Schools.
PREVENTING TRANSMISSION:
- When an outbreak of pediculosis is recognized at school, classroom activities involving frequent body to body or head to body contact between students should be temporarily suspended.
- During outbreak, group work around classroom tables should be temporarily suspended or every other chair spacing used.
- The following may help to prevent transmission:
- Policy assigning hooks in classrooms.
- Hats to be kept in coat sleeves or pockets.
- Clothes should be segregated in areas where adequate facilities for hanging coats are not available.
- Play on carpeted areas may be suspended.
- Bedding in nurse's office will not be used.
- Students will be reminded not to share combs, brushes, and/or hats.
LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections 33-512.7
ADAPA 16.02.10.025.032 c.iv
IDAPA 02.10020.28
ADOPTED ON: April 8, 2003